News and Views
Reading Hope For Cup Run As Walsall Visit
29 January 2016
By Hob Nob Anyone?
Reading are back in FA Cup action this weekend as they look to put together another cup run after last season's visit to Wembley in the Semi-Final. In Reading's way of a place in round five are League One Walsall who put out Championship Brentford in the last round with a 1-0 away victory. Reading needed a replay to eventually overcome ten man Huddersfield at home, coming from 0-2 down to win 5-2. Reading are mid-table, and out of form, and the visitors are flying high in League One - they are in third place and just a point outside the automatic promotion places. Both teams will fancy their chances, and an away win would hardly register as a shock. However this a great opportunity to make it count and progress in the competition.
Reading and Walsall fixtures are traditionally dull. The last five meetings of the two sides have returned just five goals. That average of a single goal in each match is probably a fair reflection of the entertainment served up in those matches. Out of those five games there have been four draws, which has included two games without a goal, and one single goal victory for Walsall. Two of those draws were in the FA Cup third round, and one was really a defeat after Walsall dumped the Royals out of the cup after a penalty shoot out at the Madejski.
The last time the two sides met was over 12 years ago in Division One - a 1-1 away draw. The home game that season was the 0-1 reverse, where the majority of the 11,225 fans had to be woken up at full time to leave the Madejski Stadium. Both sets of fans will be hoping for a fixture that goes against the trend tomorrow afternoon, as Reading hope to build a cup run to distract from what has been a disappointing league campaign. There may have been high hopes at the start of the season but now Reading fans are resigned to mid-table, with the FA Cup the only chance of generating any excitement this term.
Brian McDermott should have options in defence with both Paul McShane and Michael Hector expected to be available for selection. George Evans, who started for the Royals last weekend, has already appeared for Walsall in the FA Cup this season and will be unavilable for selection. McDermott is expected to field a strong first choice side in an attempt to win at the first attempt.
Discussion On This Story:
Sutekh
I always recall games with Walsall as being awkward, dour, non spectacular and about as much worth watching as a crack in the pavement.
The last time we played them in the FA Cup back in 2003 was a dreadfully dull awful replay and we got beaten on penalties, all after a particularly dull awful 0-0 at their place, (that defeat was followed by an equally dull awful 0-0 in the league with them on the Saturday after)
Since we moved to the Mad Stad we've played 11 games in total against them and won only 2, both at the Bescot and drawn another 5 (so we've obviously lost 4).
Still waiting for our first victory against them at the Mad Stad (pld 5 W0 D3 L2 F3 A5)
Think we all know what to expect on the day; a turgid game that sees us really struggle badly and either jam our way through or be otherwise embarrassed).
Last win at home against them was by 2-1 at Elm Park in September 1985 and even then they scored more goals than us....
Stick your memories and thoughts on Walsall below.
Winchester Royal
A couple of years later, we'd lost three consecutive games 3-0, to Palace, Stoke and Wimbledon. The next game was away at Walsall and we had no confidence at all. Nicky Shorey got a late free kick to equalise for us.
LUX
OK, all from memory. First or second home game 1976-77 season. Old division 3, just having gone up from the fourth tier. We won 2-1, after Alan Buckley had given them the lead in front of me on the Tilehurst end terrace. We lost the away match 6-1 at Fellows Park- I did not go to that one, but bought the programme at the following home match.
We got relegated.
Happy days.
MoorgateRoyal
I also remember Vinny Samways scoring a free-kick in one of Coppell's early games, and us looking like complete dogshit throughout.
Green
Was fun upgrading the Bescot to a huge soulless stadium and I had a pretty good knowledge of their 1995 squad (well, knew the player names at the very least). Kyle Lightbourne in particular I remember smashing the goals in, and could still do a job for us even after a couple of promotions.
Now seems to be Coach at Bermudan side Robin Hood according to
CSB.
The Cap
The Royals secured safe passage to the FA Cup 4th Round last night thanks to a thrilling 5-2 win against Huddersfield Town. We noticed you didn't attend the game yesterday, so to avoid missing out on all the drama again, read on for ticket details for our 4th Round tie with Walsall...
Blimey, it's very rare that I miss a home game but, like a few others, I thought I'd park up at home and listen to Tellor and Mick last night. Only to find that the attendance police have rumbled me. The joys of having a season ticket.
Green
What. A. Game.
"Offer bung?"
So much to love about that game.
The in game ceefax system
(Impressions)-5.jpg)
Talking to the press, all the cliches "That ref gave more cards at Christmas!", upgrading your stadium. You could even set the price of the refreshments IIRC, was kind of a sim city meets football manager game.
(Impressions)-2.jpg)
(Impressions)-4.jpg)
MoorgateRoyal
Exactly right. Which is what my earlier chant was a reference to. Walker was a very good sport about it all, as you say.
Yep - I must have missed your post in all the excitement.
I also remember calling Aranalde a pikey and being admonished by my dad in front of a load of pissed blokes, who surprisingly didn't seem to react at all.
MoorgateRoyal
It's got charm, for sure. The glamour isn't always there.
It's always good to play against different opponents than the usual, if the draw allows, and the games are usually more open than in the league. I enjoy it and the chance to be drawn against anyone, as opposed to having a seeding system, is a great incentive.
Fox Talbot
Way back Walsall were always known to be a particularly dirty side and after one bloodbath in the mid 60s I believe (wasn't there guv, honest) Reading fans attacked their team coach / players in Norfolk Road.
Add to which - that baffling defeat at Cardiff ... we got a few demons to lay to rest on 30 Jan. The Cup will be more to us than them by then.
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